Long is named Calhoun County EMA director

By Nathan Solheim
Assistant Metro Editor
12-03-2003

Long

Dan Long, a veteran former employee of the Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency, was selected by the county commission Tuesday to head the agency.

Long, who worked at the EMA for about 11 years as manager of planning and operations for the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program, will fill the position vacated by former director Mike Burney, who abruptly resigned the post earlier this year, citing health issues.

The EMA director will oversee the community’s response to an accident or incident at the Anniston Army Depot’s chemical weapons stockpile as well as other emergencies such as natural disasters.

“I felt I could be a service to the community and the commission with my background at this particular time,” Long said.

Delois Champ, who served as interim director, will return to her previously held position as CSEPP planner.

Champ was a finalist for the job, but the commission decided on Long because of his experience with CSEPP.

“Dan was a long-time employee of the EMA — he was the first CSEPP operations manager in the country,” said Calhoun County Commission Chairman Robert Downing. “He has a wealth of experience in CSEPP and in emergency management generally. He has a tremendous amount of training and experience with chemical weapons.”

The position pays $62,000 per year and will report directly to the county commission, said Ken Joiner, county administrator.

Long, 54, had most recently worked as a security supervisor at the Center for Domestic Preparedness. Prior to his start at the EMA in 1989, Long spent 22 years in the Marines, where he served in chemical, biological and radiological operations and management.

Long developed the county’s chemical incident response plan, as well as the county’s emergency operations plan, during his first stint with the EMA.

The Florida native is expected to start in the position in January.

“I see my job as going in there with the staff that’s there and seeing where they’re at and going from there.” Long said. “They have an excellent staff.”